With U.S. Congress now in its annual August recess, the general aviation (GA) community needs to redouble its grassroots efforts to stop H.R.2997, which seeks to privatize ATC, GA leaders from NBAA, AOPA, EAA, NATA and HAI, among others, said during a teleconference. The conference was meant to help regional groups and other industry advocates continue mobilizing their members and others in opposition to the bill.

Rep. Todd Rokita (R-Indiana), who also was on the call, highlighted the importance of reaching Congressional lawmakers while they are in their home districts this month. “Both the Senate and the House are back in their respective districts [and] it is an amazing opportunity for us as a community to contact them directly,” he said. “We have to take this opportunity.” He added that the true intent of H.R.2997 is “not privatization; this is a corporate takeover.”

House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee chairman Bill Shuster (R-Pennsylvania), the architect of H.R.2997, and others are working to bring the bill to a vote when Congress returns to Washington next month, AOPA president Mark Baker warned. “So the GA community can’t let its guard down. This is a battle that has just begun, not ended,” he said.

The GA leaders urged stakeholders to visit the ATC Not for Sale website, which has resources on the issue, a tool for contacting Congress and an anti-privatization video.